Aerial tow advertiser



June 20, 1933. B. B. MOEUR, JR

AERIAL TOW ADVERTISER Fiied June 16, I932 40 this" specification,

Patented June 20, 1933 BENJAMIN B. MOEUR, 33., F TEMPE, ARIZONA AERIAL TOW Application filed June 16,

v This invention relates to improvements in aerial advertising devices and pertains particularly to a device designed to be towed through the air by an airplane.

The primary object ofthe present invention is to provide a novel aerial tow advertising device by means of which advertising may be displayed from the air in the form of words, symbols or figures and maintained in the proper position at all times so as to be easily read or understood by persons upon the ground. The device may be employed also for exhibiting banners or other objects in the air and may be readily illuminated for night exhibition as well as day.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel aerial tow advertiser having novel'means for connecting it with an airplane to facilitate its being drawn through the air without shifting from a position in which it is best seen from the ground and also having novel means associated therewith whereby it may be readily released by the pilot of the airplane so that the plane will 2 not be endangered when landing by becoming entangled with the advertising matter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an aerial tow advertiser of the above described character having means associated therewith whereby it may be released in the air and carried down to the earth without injury, which feature is particularly desirable where the advertising structure may be of a character to become damaged if landed with violence.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken inconnection with s the accompanying drawing forming part of with the understanding, however, that the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawing but may be changed or modified so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient fea- ADVERTISER 1932. Serial No. 617,633.

expressed in the appling connecting means between the unit of the device and the air vessel which comprises a pgrachute by which the device may be lowere Referring now more particularly to the drawing wherein like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the numeral 1 indicates a conventionally illustrated rear end portion of an airplane showing the usual tail skid 2 thereof.

The device embodying the present inven- 7 tion is designed to be attached to the tail skid of the plane and to this end the skid is provided with a rearwardly extending hook 3.

One form of advertising arranged to be trailed through the air is indicated generally 7 by the numeral 4. This matter which as shown comprises a series of letters 5 is suspended from a cable 6, the lower portions of the letters having weights 7 attached 'thereto so as to insure their being held in the proper upright position. v

Each end of the cable 6 is connected with one of the two yoke members 8 of a universal joint which is indicated as a whole by the numeral 9 and the other one of these universal 35 joint elements 8 is connected by a cable 10 with a release hook which is indicated generally by the numeral 11. This release hook 11 has a bill portion 12 which is pivotally attached as at 13 with the shank 14 and the 99 free end of the shank 14 is connected withthe hook 3 which is carried by the tail skid 2. The end of the bill 12 of the release hook 11 is held in place by a release ring 15 which surrounds it and t e ad'acent portion of the shank 14 and which is designed who pulled from this position b a cord 16 running to the cookpit of the pl a the plane. desires to drop the material which he is trailing. w

The other universal joint 9 which is at the trailing end of the structure being towed,

has one unit 8 connected with the ad'acent' end of the cable 6 while the other unit t ereof is connected by the cable 17 with a wind cone 18 of any suitable design. In addition to the main or. top cable 6 there is provided an under cable 19 which connects the lower ends coated with a luminous paint or e the parachute as apart of the structure will of the characters 5,, which in the present showing are letters, and has its ends extended up and connected with the main cable 6 in the manner illustrated.

Where advertising matter of a breakable and expensive construction is employed it is desirable that the same be dropped from the plane, when the plane is preparing to alight, without damage and in order to accomplish this the forward tow cable 10 has substituted therefor the folded parachute 20 which is illustrated in Figure 4. The head end of this parachute is connected by a suitable short cable 21 with'the bill portion of the release hook 11, while the suspension cords 22 of the parachute are connected with one of the elements Set .the forward universal cou ling or joint 9.- From this it will be rea ily apparent that when the advertising matter is to be dropped by the plane, the parachute 20 will open up and thus lower the advertising matter gently to the ground.

While in thelillustration ofthe present invention a number of letters have been shown suspended between the trailing or two cables 6 and 19, it is, of course to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to such use for it will be apparent that there may be suspended in this manner banners, animal or human figures or other symbols besides the lettersshown and it-wil also be apparent that the structure may be towed from an airship or dirigible as wellfas from an airplane.

' The letters or other figures or characters being displayed may be painted an suitable colors to make them readably visi le in the sky and when used at night the lighted by direct connection with the electrical system of the airplane or by spot lights directed thereon from the ground. Where. the structure is lighted from the electric system of the airplaneiit will, of course, be

readily understood that electric bulbs will be mounted upon the trailing structure and it will be seen from this that the provision of ne, when the pilot ofmay be ectrically facilitate the dropping of the structure without damaging or destroying the same.

The release mechanism for the structure is provided wishes to land he can drop the structure and thus avoid the risk of becoming entan led therein-on the landing field. The lan ing field crew-can then gather 'up the dropped structure and have the field clear for the landing of the plane.

Having thus described the invention, is claimed is:- v a 1. The combination with an airplane or other type of air vessel, of a body designed.

what

- to be trailed from the air vessel, a cable for coupling one side of the body with the air vessel, a universal joint connection between the cable and the said body, means for couso that when the driver of the plane 4 "lo pling the other end of the cable with the air v vessel, a universal joint connection 'at the other side of the body, and a hollow tubular stabilizing element connected with the sec- "0nd mentioned universal joint connection.

2. The combination with anairplane or other type of air vessel, of a body designed.

to be trailed from the air vessel, a cable for coupling one side of the body with the air vessel, a universal joint connection between the cable and the said body, means coupling the other end. of the cable with the air vessel whereby the cable may be released from the vessel while the latter is in the air, a universal joint connection at the other side of Y the body, and a stabilizing device connected with the second mentioned universal I joint for assisting in maintaining the body at a desired position in the air.

3.,The combination with an airplane or other type of air vessel, of a body designed to be trailed through the air to be viewed from the ground, said body including a cable, a universal joint coupling at each end of said cable, a tow cable connected at one end with one of said couplings, means for detachably connecting the other endof said tow cable with the air vessel comprising a hook having "a bill formed to be opened and means for normally maintaining the bill in closed position, means for effecting the opening of said hook bill while the ir vessel is in fllght, and a wind cone stabi izer connectedwith the other of said couplings.

4. The combination with an airplane or other type of air vessel, of a structure designed to be trailed from the vessel to be viewed from the ground, means for connecting one side of the structure with the air vessel comprising a folded arachute -conneeted with the structure in such a manner as tofacilitate its opening when the structure is dropped from the air vessel while in the air,

and means for detachably connecting the parachute with the airvessel.

5. The combination with an airplane or signed to be trailed from the vessel to be viewed from the ground, means for connecting one side of the structure with the air vessel comprising a folded parachute connected with the structure in such a manner as to facilitate its opening when the structure is dropped from the air vessel while in the air, means for detachably connecting the parachute with the air vessel, and a wind controlled stabilizing member connected with the other side of the structure for assisting in maintaining the same in a. desired position while being trailed through the air.

6. The combination with an airplane or other type of airvessel, of a structure designed to be trailed from the vessel to be viewed from the ground, comprising a cable, means for detachably coupling one end of the cable with the air vessel, a stabilizing element connected with the other end of the cable a second cable having its ends confirst cable, weight elements carried by the second mentioned cable and disposed beneath the exhibition characters, and swivel elements at the ends of the first mentioned cable'for coupling the latter with the air vessel and the said wind cone.

In testimony whereof Ihereunto affix my signature.

BENJAMIN B. MOE, JR.

nected with and adjacent the ends of the.

first cable and having its intermediate portion looping downwardly from the first cable when the device is in operation, and

exhibition characters mounted between the first cable and the looped-portion of the second cable, the said structure when in the air having the line of pull passing longitudinally through the first cable.

7. The combination with an airplane or fother type of air vessel, of"a structure designed to be trailed from the vessel to be viewed from the ground, comprising a cable,

means for detachably coupling one end of the cable with the air vessel, a stabilizing element connected with the other end of the cable, a second cable havin its ends connected with and adjacent t eends of the first cable and having its intermediate porble when the device is in operation, exhibition characters mounted between the first ca ble and the looped portion of the second cable, the said structure when in the air having the line of pull passing longitudinally through the first cable, and weight elements carried by the second mentioned cable and disposed beneath the exhibition characters.

mounted between the first cable and the looped portion of the second cable, the said structure whenin the air. having the line of pull passing longitudinally through the tion looping downwardly from the first ca- 

